Article support construction



Jan. 13, 1970 c. o. LARSON 3,489,38

ARTICLE SUPPORT CONSTRUCTION Filed March 25, 1968 I N VEN TOR. CHARLES O. LARSON ATTORNEYS United States Patent ARTICLE SUPPORT CONSTRUCTION Charles 0. Larson, Sterling, Ill., assiguor to Chas. O. Larson Co., Sterling, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Filed Mar. 25, 1968, Ser. No. 715,723 Int. Cl. E06b 7/28 US. Cl. 248223 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The article support construction is for use on an apertured panel and comprises a pair of bases, at least one mounting prong on the upper edge of each of the bases, each mounting prong including a rearwardly extending first finger and an upwardly extending second finger on the rear end of the first finger and disposed normal thereto, a support such as a shelf or hanger, including an attachment portion and support portion integral with the attachment portion and extending outwardly therefrom, and fasteners connecting the attachment portion to the bases, the first and second fingers cooperating to mount the support on the apertured panel in cantilever fashion.

This invention is directed to article support constructions for use on an apertured panel, and more particularly to an article support construction having either a hanger or a shelf.

In summary, the article support construction incorporating the features of the invention is for use on an upstanding apertured panel having a plurality of holes arranged in equidistantly spaced horizontal rows and vertical columns, the article support construction comprising first and second spaced apart bases each having substantially flat front and rear surfaces, the first base having a pair of edges generally aligned with the corresponding edges of the second base, at least one mounting prong on one edge of the first base and at least one mounting prong on the corresponding edge of the second base, each of the mounting prongs including a first finger extending from the associated rear surface and disposed substantially normal thereto and including a second finger on the outer end of the associated first finger and extending therefrom in a direction opposite to the associated base, the mounting prongs being spaced from one another by a predetermined distance, a support including an attachment portion and a support portion integral with the attachment portion and extending outwardly therefrom, the attachment portion being disposed adjacent the front surfaces of the bases, and fasteners connecting the attachment portion to the bases, the rear surfaces of the bases, respectively bearing in use against the front surface of the associated apertured panel, with the first fingers extending through associated holes in the apertured panel and the second fingers extending upwardly behind the apertured panel, thereby to mount the support on the apertured panel in cantilever fashion.

In a further aspect of the invention, the support comprises a shelf including an attachment flange and a plate on the attachment flange and extending outwardly therefrom, with the fasteners connecting the attachment flange to the bases.

In a still further aspect of the invention, the support comprises a hanger including a support bar carrying a pair of spacer arms having respectively thereon a pair of attachment flanges, the pair of spacer arms being disposed substantially parallel to each other and substantially normal to the support bar, the pair of attachment flanges being disposed in general longitudinal alignment and extending substantially normal to the associated spacer arms and in opposite directions therefrom,

with the fasteners respectively connecting the attachment flanges to the bases.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangement of the parts of the article support construction whereby the above-outlined and additional operating features thereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspecitve view of one embodiment of the article support construction incorporating the features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the article support construction of FIG. 1 along the lines 22 thereof;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the article support construction; and

FIG. 4 is a side-elevational view of the article support construction of FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGURES l and 2 thereof, there is shown an article support construction 15 for use on an aperture panel 10, the apertured panel 10 being shown in phantom and having therein a plurality of holes 11 arranged in equidistantly spaced horizontal rows and columns. The article support construction 15 comprises first and second end bases 16a and 16b and a central base 16c disposed therebetween. The bases have the same construction and, therefore, in the interest of brevity, only the central base will be described. It will be understood, however, that the following remarks are equally applicable to the bases 16a and 16b. The base 160 is stamped from a unitary metal sheet and has a substantially fiat front surface and a substantially flat rear surface 186. There are provided three mounting prongs 200 on one edge of the base 160, namely, the upper edge thereof as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2. Each of the mounting prongs 20c includes a first finger 21c extending rearwardly from the rear surface 18c and disposed substantially normal thereto and having a length approximately equal to the thickness of the apertured panel 10. Each of the mounting prongs 200 includes a second finger 22c on the outer end of the first finger 21c and extending therefrom in a direction opposite to the base 160, that is, the second finger 220 extends upwardly as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2. The mounting prongs 20c are spaced from one another and from the mounting prongs 20a and 20b by distances equal to the distance between two of the apertured panel holes 11 in a horizontal row. Three stabilizing prongs 25c (only one is shown) are disposed on the lower edge of the base 16c and extend rearwardly from the rear surface 18c thereof and are disposed substantially normal thereto, the stabilizing prongs 250 each being vertically aligned with an associated first finger 21c and spaced therefrom by a distance equal to the distance between two of the apertured panel holes 11 in a vertical column.

The article support construction 15 further comprises a shelf 30, the shelf 30 including an elongated attachment flange 31 which has predetermined longitudinal extent and including a plate 32 having the same longitudinal extent. The plate 32 is disposed on the lower longitudinal edge of the attachment flange 31 and extends substantially normal thereto. Formed at the junction of the attachment flange 31 and the plate 32 is a set of five equally spaced webs 33 to strengthen the junction, the attachment flange 31, the plate 32 and the webs 33 being formed from a unitary metal sheet. The attachment flange 31 is disposed adjacent to the front surfaces 17a, 17b and 17c of the respective bases, and has three equally spaced holes 35 therein, the attachment flange 31 being connected to the bases 16a, 16b and 160 by dropping through the holes hot metal which flows between the abutting surfaces of the attachment flange 31 and the bases 16a, 16b and 160, a round head 34 being formed over each of the holes 35 to give the article support construction 15 an attractive appearance.

In use, the first fingers 21a, 21b and 21c on the respective bases 16a, 16b and 16c extend through associated holes 11 in the apertured panel 10, the second fingers 22a, 22b and 220 extend upwardly behind the apertured panel, and the rear surfaces of the respective bases 16a, 16b and 16c bear against the front surface of the apertured panel 10, thereby to mount the shelf 30 on the apertured panel in cantilever fashion. Further, the stabilizing prongs 25a, 25b (not shown) and 25c of the respective bases extend through associated holes 11 in the apertured panel 10 to orient and provide additional support of the article support construction 15. When the article support construction is thusly mounted on apertured panel 10, the plate 32 extends generally horizontally and is, therefore, adapted to carry articles thereon.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is shown a further article support construction 40, the article support construction 40 comprising first and second end bases 41a and 41b. The bases have the same construction; and, therefore, in the interest of brevity only the first end base 41a will be described. It will be understood, however, that the following remarks are equally applicable to the base 41b. The base 41a is stamped from a unitary metal sheet and has a substantially flat front surface 42a and a substantialy flat rear surface 43a. There are provided two mounting prongs 34a on one edge of the base 41a, namely, the upper edge thereof, as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 4. Each of the mounting prongs 44a includes a first finger 45a extending rearwardly from the rear surface 43a and disposed substantially normal thereto and having a length approximately equal to the thickness of the apertured panel 10. Each of the mounting prongs 44a includes a second finger 46a on the outer end of the first finger 45a and extending therefrom in a direction opposite to the base 41a, that is, the second finger extends upwardly as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 4. The mounting prongs 44a are spaced from one another and from the mounting prongs 44b by distances equal to the distance between two of the apertured panel holes 11 in a horizontal row. Two stabilizing prongs 47a are disposed on the lower edge of the base 41a and extend rearwardly from the rear surface 43a and are disposed substantially normal thereto, the stabilizing prongs 47a each being vertically aligned with an associated first finger 45a and spaced therefrom by a distance equal to the distance between two of the apertured panel holes 11 in a vertical column.

The article support construction 40 further comprises a hanger 50, the hanger 50 including a support bar 51 carrying a pair of spacer arms 52 disposed substantially parallel to each other and substantially normal to the support bar 51. A pair of attachment flanges 53 on the outer ends of the respective spacer arms 52 are disposed in generally longitudinal alignment and extend substantially normal to the associated spacer arms 52 and in opposite directions therefrom, the attachment flanges 53 being disposed adjacent the front surfaces 42a and 42b of the respective bases. Each of the attachment flanges 53 has a hole (not shown) therein, the attachment flanges 53 being connected to the bases 41a and 41b by dropping through the holes hot metal which flows between the abutting surfaces of the attachment flanges 53 and the bases 41a and 41b, a round head 54 being formed over each of the holes to give the article support construction 40 an attractive appearance.

In use, the first fingers 45a and 45b on the respective bases 41a and 41b extend through associated holes 11 in the apertured panel 10, the second fingers 46a and 46b extend upwardly behind the apertured panel 10, and the rear surfaces of the associated bases 41a and 41b bear against the front surface of the apertured panel 10, thereby to mount the hanger 50 on the apertured panel 10 in cantilever fashion. Further, the stabilizing prongs 47a and 4712 on the respective bases extend through associated holes 11 in the apertured panel 10 to orient and provide additional support of the article support construction 40. When the article support construction 40 is thusly mounted on the apertured panel 10, the support bar 51 extends generally horizontally and is, therefore, adapted to carry articles such as a towel or the like.

While there have been described What are at present considered to the the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein.

What is claimed is:

1. An article support construction for use on an upstanding apertured panel having a plurality of holes arranged in equidistantly spaced horizontal rows and vertical columns, said article support construction comprising first and second spaced apart bases each having substantialy fiat front and rear surfaces, said first base having a pair of edges generally aligned with the corresponding edges of said second base, a plurality of mounting prongs on one edge of said first base and a plurality of mounting prongs on the corresponding edge of said second base, each of said mounting prongs including a first finger extending from the associated rear surface and disposed substantially normal thereto and including a second finger on the outer end of the associated first finger and extending therefrom in a direction opposite to the associated base, said mounting prongs being spaced from one another by a predetermined distance, a plurality of stabilizing prongs on the edge of said first base 0pposing said one edge thereof and extending from the rear surface thereof and disposed substantially normal thereto and vertically aligned with the associated first fingers on said first base, a plurality of stabilizing prongs on the edge of said second base opposing said corresponding edge thereof and extending from the rear surface thereof and disposed substantially normal thereto and vertically aligned with the associated first fingers on said second base, a support including an attachment portion and a support portion integral with said attachment portion and extending outwardly forwardly therefrom, said attachment portion being disposed adjacent to the front surfaces of said bases, and fasteners connecting said attachment portion to said bases, said fasteners contacting and being Wholly forward the front surface of said bases, the rear surfaces of said bases respectively bearing in use against the front surface of the associated apertured panel, with said first fingers extending through associated holes in the apertured panel and said second fingers extending upwardly behind the apertured panel, thereby to mount said support on the apertured panel in cantilever fashion, said stabilizing prongs extending in use into associated holes in the apertured panel to orient and provide additional support for the article support construction.

2. An article support construction for use on an upstanding apertured panel having a plurality of holes arranged in equidistantly spaced horizontal rows and vertical columns, said article support construction comprising first and second spaced apart bases each having substantially flat front and rear surfaces, said first base having a pair of edges generally aligned with the corresponding edges of said second base, a plurality of mounting prongs, on one edge of said first base and a plurality of mounting prongs on the corresponding edge of said second base, each of said mounting prongs including a first finger extending from the associated rear surface and disposed substantially normal thereto and including a second finger on the outer end of the associated first finger and extending therefrom in a direction opposite to the associated base, said mounting prongs being spaced from one another by a predetermined distance, a plurality of stabilizing prongs on the edge of said first base opposing said one edge thereof and extending from the rear surface thereof and disposed substantiall normal thereto and vertically aligned with the associated first fingers on said first base, a plurality of stabilizing prongs on the edge of said second base opposing said corresponding edge thereof and extending from the rear surface thereof and disposed substantially normal thereto and vertically aligned with the associated first fingers on said second base, a shelf including an attachment flange and a plate integral therewith and extending outwardly forwardly therefrom and substantially normal thereto, said attachement flange being disposed adjacent to the front surfaces of said bases, and fasteners connecting said attachment flange to said bases, said fasteners contacting and being wholly forward the front surface of said bases, the rear surfaces of said bases respectively bearing in use against the front surface of the associated apertured panel, with said first fingers extending through associated holes in the apertured panel and said second fingers extending upwardly behind the apertured panel, thereby to mount said shelf on the apertured panel in cantilever fashion, said stabilizing prongs extending in use into associated holes in the apertured panel to orient and rovide additional support for the article support construction.

3-. The article support construction set forth in claim 2, wherein said attachment flange is elongated and has a predetermined longitudinal extent, and said plate is elongated and has a longitudinal extent substantially equal to that of said attachment flange, said plate being disposed on one of the longitudinal edges of said attachment flange and extending substantially normal to the front surface thereof.

4. The article support construction set forth in claim 2, and further comprising a plurality of spaced-apart reinforcing webs fromed at the junction of said attachment flange and said plate to strengthen said junction.

5. The article support construction set forth in claim 4, wherein a unitary metal sheet is bent to form said attachment flange and said plate and said webs.

6. The article support construction set forth .in claim 2, and further comprising a third base having substantially flat front and rear surfaces and a pair of edges generally aligned with the corresponding edges of said first and second bases, a plurality of mounting prongs on the edge of said third base that is aligned with said one edge of said first base, said mounting prongs including a first finger extending from the rear surface of said third base and disposed substantially normal thereto and including a second finger on the outer end of said first finger and extending therefrom in a direction opposite to said third base, said third base being disposed between said first and second bases and lying adjacent to the attachment flange of said shelf, and an additional fastener connecting said attachment flange to said third base.

7. An article support construction for use on an upstanding apertured panel having a plurality of holes arranged in equidistantly spaced horizontal rows and vertical columns, said article support construction comprising first and second spaced apart bases each having substantially flat front and rear surfaces, said first base having a pair of edges generally aligned with the corresponding edges of said second base, a plurality of mounting prongs on one edge of said first base and a plurality of mounting prongs on the corresponding edge of said second base, each of said mounting prongs including a first finger extending from the associated rear surface and disposed substantially normal thereto and including a second finger on the outer end of the associated first finger and ex tending therefrom in a direction opposite to the associated base, said mounting prongs being spaced from one another by a predetermined distance, a plurality of stabilizing prongs on the edge of said first base opposing said one edge thereof and extending from the rear surface thereof and disposed substantially normal thereto and vertically aligned with the associated first fingers on said first base, a plurality of stabilizing prongs on the edge of said second base opposing said corresponding edge thereof and extending from the rear surface thereof and disposed substantially normal thereto and vertically aligned with the associated first fingers on said second base, a hanger including a support bar carrying a pair of spacer arms having respectively thereon a pair of attachment flanges, said pair of spacer arms being disposed substantially parallel to each other and substantially normal to said support bar, said pair of attachment flanges being disposed in general longitudinal alignment and extending substantially normal to the associated spacer arms and in opposite directions therefrom and being disposed adjacent the front surfaces of said bases, and fasteners respectively connecting said attachment flanges to said bases, said fasteners contacting and being wholly forward the front surface of said bases, the rear surfaces of said bases respectively bearing in use against the front surface of the associated apertured panel with said first fingers extending through associated holes in the apertured panel and said second fingers extending upwardly behind the apertured panel, thereby to mount said hanger on the apertured panel in cantilever fashion, said stabilizing prongs extending in use into associated holes in the apertured panel to orient and provide additional support for the article support construction.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 924,248 6/ 1909 Lamar 211-1052 1,416,969 5/ 1922. OConnor 248-223 2,528,358 10/1950 Grass 248251 2,743,022 4/ 1956 Mapson 21l87 2,815,863 12/1957 Larson 21l90 X 2,842,264 7/1958 Larson.

FOREIGN PATENTS 710,030 6/ 1954 Great Britain.

EDWARD C. ALLEN, Primary Examiner J. F. FOSS, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

